Float for spectacles



July 2,1968 .4.H.GAN SZ 3.390.938

FLOAT FOR SPECTACLES -'0riginal Filed June 11, 1962 F'IG.3 FIG.4

mvsmog. HARRY H. cmsz Q BY ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,390,938 FLOAT FOR SPECTACLES Harry H. Gansz,Tulsa, Okla., assignor to Optic- Glass Float Company, Tulsa, Okla., acorporafion of Oklahoma Continuation of application Ser. No. 201,419,June 11, .1962. This application Apr. 13, 1967, Ser. No. 630,770

2 Claims. (Cl. 351-43) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A float for spectacleshaving a gas filled member with assembled resilient rings which arerequired to be twisted 90 inorder to position same over the templeportion of spectacles to float the spectacles in the event they areaccidentally dropped into a body of water.

Cross-references to related applications This invention is acontinuation of copending application S.N. 201,419, filed June 11, 1962,now abandoned in favor of this application, which prior application is acontinuation-in-part of copending application S.N. 749,- 918, now US.Patent 3,038,375, issued June 12, 1962.

This invention relates to apparatus for floating objects in liquids.More particularly, it relates to a float or floats for preventingarticles, such as spectacles or eyeglasses, from falling to the bottomof a body of water, such as a lake or river.

The principal object of this invention is to overcome the problem oflosing spectacles or eyeglasses, or keys and the like, which may beaccidentally dropped into a body of water while engaging in variouswater sporting activities such as fishing, boating, skiing and the like.

Another object of this invention is to disclose a hollow float apparatusfor spectacles or eyeglasses and the like which is lightweight and notbothersome to the wearer thereof.

Additional objects and a better understanding of this invention may behad by referring to the following description and claims, when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of a float according to thisinvention.

FIGURE 2 is a partial perspective view describing the manner in which afloat is attached to the temple portion of eyeglasses or the like.

FIGURES 3 and 4 represent an alternate attachment device.

FIGURE 5 represents an additional embodiment of this invention using thefloat herein for attachment to a key and chain.

Generally speaking, this invention relates to a low density or hollowfloat composed of a molded synthetic resin, such as polystyrene,polyethylene, or the like, and which ordinarily come in pairs forattachment to the temple portions of spectacles or eyeglasses.

Referring now to FIGURES l and 2, the exploded parts of the float asmanufactured for usual attachment to one temple portion of typicalspectacles or eyeglasses 12 is illustrated. Ordinarily two of the floatsare used-one on each temple portionand are found to be adequate to floataverage eyeglasses in water. The float is formed from two pre-moldedportions, a lower male shell 14 and an upper female shell 16. The lowermale portion includes upwardly extending pins 18 spaced at variousplaces around the edge of the float and which are adapted to engage andinterlock within matching portions, not shown, in the upper femaleportion 16. Along one side of the float, recessed and indented portions20 3,390,938 Patented July 2, 1968 ice and 22 are formed in the lowerand upper portions respectively. Similar recesses 24 and 26 are formedand spaced along the same edge and include, in the lower half 14,relatively horizontal portions 28 and 30 with extendfng pins 32 and 34.Pins 32 and 34 are adapted to engage within matching openings 36 and 38formed wilhin similar horizontal portions 40 and 42 respectively, Uponassembly of the float, O-rings 44 and 46, which are normally similar asto resiliency and composition, are preassembled upon pins 32 and 34respectively, prior to applying glue or solvent along the outerperipherial edges and thence snapping the upper portion in place. Thislocks the O-rings in a position between the horizontal portions whereintheir axii are parallel to the pins or substantially 90 to a line alongthe outer periphery of the float parallel to the elongated axis of thefloat.

Typically, the float is made in such a manner as to be relatively largerin diameter at one end than it is at the other, forming a taperedstreamlined appearance.

It is important to note that by placement of the resilient O-rings 44and 46 in a position wherein the axii are normally at 90 to theaforesaid imaginary line which is parallel to the axis of the membersuch that when attached to the temple portion 52 of a typical spectacleframe the O-ring will be twisted somewhat in the manner shown in FIGURE2 to provide greater friction and gripping force about the templeportion and hence prevent their removal upon being dropped into thewater or impacted into the water.

An additional embodiment of this invention is represented by theapparatus of FIGURES 3 and 4 wherein an O-ring 56 is adapted to beinterlocked with another ring member 58 and used in such a manner in theassembly of the float that the relatively larger ring 58 is encircledabout the pin 34 at the one, usually the smaller rearward, end of thefloat permitting O-ring 56 to have a greater degree of expandability inthose instances in which the floats are used upon eyeglasses wherein theear portion 54 is relatively wide or thick. It was found that whenthreading the O-rings upon the temple portion over the ear portion, thesecond O-ring was diflicult to thread, especially in those instanceswhere the ear portion was relatively wide or thick. This is due to thetensions and stress existing in the threading operation. Modifying atleast one of the two O-rings in this manner solved the problem. Althoughthe rings 56 and 58 are shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 as being at to eachother, this is not to be held as limiting as it is contemplated that anymeans in which the resilient O-ring 56 is given a freer movement otherthan the restricted movement it normally has when assembled inaccordance with the manner shown in FIG- URE l is deemed acceptable. Forexample, the two rings system may be molded as a resilient unit whereinthe circular portion for attachment about the pin 34 has its axisparallel to the resilient portion 56, or in the alternative be molded inthe manner described in FIGURES 3 and 4 wherein the axii areperpendicular to one another.

In FIGURE 5 an alternate embodiment of this invention is disclosedwherein a typical float 10 has heretofore described in this inventionfor use upon spectacles or eyeglasses and the like it is considered asapplicable for use wherein a chain member 60 is adapted to be encircledthrough a resilient O-ring 44, for example, to retain a typical key 62and hence provide a float for a marine boat key, or any other type ofkey that may accidentally be dropped in the water.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has beenmade only by way of example and that other changes in the details ofconstruction, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafterclaimed.

I claim: 1. A float for attachment to the temple portion of spectacles,comprising,

an elongated and substantially cylindrical gas filled float formed fromsolvent sealed male and female molded halves of synthetic resin,

two spaced recesses along a line parallel to the elongated axis of saidfloat, said recesses formed at the mating edges of the float halves,

a pin in each of said recesses extending substantially perpendicular tothe plane of said axis and said line,

a resilient ring positioned over each of said pins and looked uponsealing said halves in such normal position that the cylindrical axes ofsaid rings are substantially parallel to said pins until placed aboutthe temple portion of said spectacles wherein said rings become twistedabout said pins to assume a position with their said axes substantially90 from said normal position. 1

2. A fioat of the type in claim 1 wherein another resilient ring isinterconnected within one of said resilient rings.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Shepherd 43-43. 1 :Withey4342.35' X Huston 43-4495 Lodewick et al. 351157 Boothe 35143 Gansz351-43 DAVID H. RUBIN, Primary Examiner.

I. W. LEONARD, Assistant Examiner.

